Ashdown pulls out of Afghan role

LE

Certain quarters are looking for a fall-guy not a fixer. Unless you are prepared to be a nodding donkey, doing as told, but also taking the rap for all the cr@p, steer well clear of this job. It's poison.

LE

Interesting. Lord Ashdown's letter attributes Afghan opposition partly to his nationality, and Britain's role in the country. How does that square with the Afghans reportedly touting Gen Sir John McColl for the job?

LE

Who are those who are looking for a fall guy, WC -and just how do You know.

Did they tell You?

What did Paddy give as His reasons for changing His mind? Oh yes . . . .

However, since our meeting there have been many reports, both diplomatic and in the media, including in Afghan Government-controlled newspapers, that President Karzai and members of his Government are opposed to my appointment, partially based on my nationality and Britains role in Afghanistan.

I have always been of the view that this job only stands a chance of being
successfully carried out if it enjoys consensus within the international
community and the whole hearted agreement of the Government of
Afghanistan.

I accepted the job you kindly asked me to do on that basis, and in the hope that I may be able to contribute to the cause of stability and peace in Afghanistan, in the best interests of its people. I should certainly not wish my appointment to become an impediment to that. The task involved is difficult enough in any case. I just do not believe it is feasible in the face of opposition from the elected Government of Afghanistan.

LE

Quite so! I suggest that we have some very clever diplomatic-speak being used to cover up the real reasons behind all this. Gen McColl, although British, will be in place as a NATO appointee - and Kharzai is relatively happy with NATO at present.

No final agreement was reached on the powers of Lord Ashdown's possible job as Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General.
[snip]
Last week, Mr Karzai told an Afghan cabinet meeting that "some vagueness" surrounded the proposed job for Lord Ashdown and unless the UN clarified matters, the Briton could not take up the post.

"The administration is trying to resolve the issue with UN consent," said Mr Karzai, according to the Kabul Times.
[bigger snip]
The former Royal Marine has written widely on post-conflict reconstruction and last year he gave warning of the possibility of failure in Afghanistan.

At first, Lord Ashdown was being considered for a uniquely powerful coordinating role in Afghanistan. British officials said the first proposal was that he would have served as the joint envoy of the UN, Nato and the European Union.

But this combined, "triple hatted" proposal was dropped for lack of support. Lord Ashdown was then considered for the role of representing the UN. But even this scaled down proposal was not acceptable to Mr Karzai.

IMO elements of the Afghan 'Government' were very much in the loop, insofar as the the pair involved may allegedly have been making things potentially embarrassing by shining lights under rocks as to who was involved with what.

The Afghan Government (hoho) not wanting someone like the Lord Ashdown on the scene smells of not wanting a 1,000,000 candela light shone under the very same rocks.

That is my personal opinion of course.

He had bought a large map representing the sea,
Without the least vestige of land:
And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be
A map they could all understand.

IMO elements of the Afghan 'Government' were very much in the loop, insofar as the the pair involved may allegedly have been making things potentially embarrassing by shining lights under rocks as to who was involved with what.

The Afghan Government (hoho) not wanting someone like the Lord Ashdown on the scene smells of not wanting a 1,000,000 candela light shone under the very same rocks.

There's been a massive shift in British policy in Afghanistan since the One-with-Faith handed over the reign to the One-without-Eye. It's clearly not been to the Mayor of Kabul's liking, nor - according to whispers within the Washington Beltway - the Whitehouse.

"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."
Sir Winston Churchill

IMO elements of the Afghan 'Government' were very much in the loop, insofar as the the pair involved may allegedly have been making things potentially embarrassing by shining lights under rocks as to who was involved with what.

The Afghan Government (hoho) not wanting someone like the Lord Ashdown on the scene smells of not wanting a 1,000,000 candela light shone under the very same rocks.

Whatever the opposition to Ashdown's appointment, this saga has unearthed some interesting comments from Karzai. The propsed "triple-hatted" job is unlikely to garner support in country, whoever the candidate was.

IMO elements of the Afghan 'Government' were very much in the loop, insofar as the the pair involved may allegedly have been making things potentially embarrassing by shining lights under rocks as to who was involved with what.

The Afghan Government (hoho) not wanting someone like the Lord Ashdown on the scene smells of not wanting a 1,000,000 candela light shone under the very same rocks.

My opinion as well, never forget the vast majority of Afghanistans leaders actualy don't know how to do peace.

Paddy not going is bad news for the mission.

'There is much to learn from the British: their reticence about disclosing details, their clear expertise in human intelligence, their non-hysterical reaction to very real threats. Many Americans may have an inferiority complex about things British -- the refinement, the style and, of course, those accents' -

LE

I surmise the media's use of the term - "super envoy" may not have done Paddy's role much of a favour with President Karzai and his government. Me thinks with Kosovo on the boil again, our Paddy's experiences will be put to much better use.